Picture hanger



E. W. MELLER PICTURE HANGER Nun 22, 3949 Filed p INVENTOR.

Patented Nov. 22, 1949 @EFQE PICTURE HANGER Elton W. Milling Hampton, Va.

Application April 5, 1948, Serial No. 19,050

10 Claims.

The present invention pertains to a device for suspending pictures, mirrors, clocks or other like objects and has as its primary object the provision of a device of such character that the objects can be quickly and conveniently adjusted as to position and when once adjusted will not be displaced during dusting operations or the shaking of the walls but if displaced can be quickl adjusted to proper position.

Anotherobject of the invention is the provision of a suspension device, particularly for pictures, which isextremely simple of construction and comparatively cheap of manufacture yet highly efiicient in operation.

Another object. of the invention is the provision of a device of the character described composed entirely of two parts one of which is applied to a wall or the like and theother to the picture frame or the like and quickly and easily adapted for use in accomplishing the desired object.

Other objects, advantages as well as improved results obtained from the practice of the invention will appear in more detail from the following description when read in the light of the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view in front elevation of the wall bracket.

Fig. 2 is a view in front elevation of the picture carried lug.

Fig. 3 is a view in front elevation of the comblned bracket and lug.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3 with the addition of picture frame.

Fig. 5 is a view in front elevation of a modified form of wall bracket.

Fig. 6 is a view in front elevation of a still further modified form of the invention.

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view on the line 1l of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a view in front elevation of another and further modified form of the invention.

In the drawings the preferred embodiments of the inventive concept are illustrated but departures therefrom can be made without departing from the invention as will more clearly appear in the followingdetailed description of the invention andits manner of operation.

Describing the invention in detail and having reference to Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive of the drawings the two-part picture hanging device comprises a wall bracket or plate A and a picture carried lug orabutment B. The bracket is preferably composed of some suitable resilient metallic material and the picture carried lugof a material having the thickness of the upper some resilient characteristics. The particular material of which the parts are composed is not however critical.

The wall bracket comprises a lower leg portion; which in vertical section is of arcuate con figuration and is provided centrally with an opening 2 for the reception of a screw, nail orsimilar fastening element designated 3. Intermediate its length the bracket is bent to provide a horizontal leg portion 5 from the outer end of which continues an upwardly extending topleg portion 5 the upper end or edge of which is arcuate so that it is concaved as indicated at 6.

By reference to Fig. 4 the manner of applying and securing the bracket to a wall l is indicated in which it will be seen that when the screw 3 is tightened down the'bracket is held in contact with the wall under resilient tension which pre vents movement of the bracket, particularly rotary movement thereof, in respect to the secur-f ing screw 3. The upper leg 5 of the bracket is in' spaced parallel relationship to the outer face of the wall i.

The picture carried lug, abutment or element 3 is'generally of a rectangular shape to provide a main head or body portion 8 the lower face or side 9 of which is fiat so as to provide a straight edge or straight line abutment. A pair of spaced arms l0 and II extend downwardly from the lower edge of the body or head and their opposed faces are shaped to form an internal longitudi nally extending passageway or groove [2. 'Adjacent their extremities the arms are provided with opposed lips l3 and M which between them define a passageway of slightly less width than edge of the upper leg of the wall bracket. At spaced points throughout its length the head 8 of the lug is provided with a pair of passageways l5 for the reception of screws IE or the like by which the lug is secured to the rear side of the upper cross element i! of a picture frame C.

in which it will be seen that the upper concaved edge of the bracket is disposed within the lug. channelway and that the rear and front sides of the upper leg of the bracket are resiliently engaged between the opposed lips 13 and I4.

From the construction thus far described 'it will be readily apparent that the wall bracket when in place on the wall will support a picture or other object to which the lug B is secured. Movement of the lug longitudinally of the upper edge ofthe bracket is resisted by the resilient 611- gagement of the lips with the bracket. The lug however can be moved longitudinally of the upper edge of the bracket and such movement is intended for adjusting the position of the picture so as to assure that the picture hangs level. Due to the arcuate shape of the upper edge of the bracket it will be readily apparent that movement of the lug longitudinally of the upper bracket edge will raise or lower either of the corners of the picture frame in accordance with the direction of movement of the lug in respect to the bracket. This is of course due to the fact that the lower straight edge bottom 9 of the lug engages the upper edge of the bracket at spaced points. The points of this engagement are on the oppositely inclined faces of the upper edge of the bracket.

The arrangement provides an extremely simple manner of adjusting the position of a picture on the wall so that it will hang level. The construction is further such that once so adjusted considerable shock is required to move the picture out of adjustment. Should this occur relevelling of the picture is almost instantly accomplished by moving the picture longitudinally of the bracket in the necessary direction.

It is realized that the primary object of the invention can be accomplished by a bracket which does not have the exact construction thus far described.

Such a bracket is illustrated in Fig. of the drawings wherein the upper edge is not of arcuate shape but is provided with ends 18 and [9 which are oppositely inclined and have their lower inner ends connected by a straight upper edge portion 20. This modified construction provides a twopoint supporting engagement with the picture carried lug just as does the form of bracket first described. Similarly this two-point supporting engagement is upon oppositely inclined surfaces with the result that longitudinal movement of a picture in respect to the upper edge of bracket D of Fig. 5 will result in the desired adjustment of the picture so that it will hang level.

A further example of carrying out the inventive concept with a construction differing from those thus far described is illustrated in Figs. 6 and '7 of the drawings wherein similar reference numerals are applied to like parts with the following description pointing out the structural differences embodied in this particular form of the invention.

In this instance the wall bracket E comprises a lower fiat leg 2! and an upper off-set head 22. The bracket is secured to the wall I by two nails, screws or the like 23. The upper edge of the bracket head 22 is arcuate and concaved as at 6 similarly to the previously described bracket A.

The frame carried lug or abutment F difiers from the previously described member B in that the bottom of its groove 24 is arcuate shaped so that when the upper edge 6 of the bracket enters the groove this edge is engaged by the bottom of the groove throughout the length thereof. Instead of providing continuous lips I3 and 14 at the open edge of the groove a plurality of lips or fingers 25 are provided. This arrangement increases the frictional engagement between the lug and the bracket so as to more greatly resist displacement of the lug in respect to the bracket.

As in respect to the previous forms of the invention adjustment of the picture, or other suspended article, is obtained by moving the lug longitudinally of the upper arcuate shaped end of the bracket.

Fig. 8 illustrates a further construction by which the invention may be practiced. In this instance the bracket G, 'which may be secured to the wall in the manner illustrated in Fig. 4 or Fig. 7 whichever is found preferable, has its upper edge arcuate shaped as at 2B but in this instance a convex rather than a concave surface is provided. The picture carried lug or abutment H is in this instance provided with a groove for telescopically receiving the convexed upper edge of the bracket and the bottom of this groove is concaved, as at 21 so that throughout its length the bottom of the groove engages the upper edge of the bracket. The construction embodying a plurality of fingers '25 at the opposite sides of the groove for frictionally engaging the bracket is illustrated.

As in respect to the previously described forms of the invention adjustment of the picture, or other suspended article, is obtained by moving the lug, and consequently the picture because the lug is attached thereto, longitudinally of the upper convex edge of the bracket.

Even further structural departures from those illustrated in the drawings can be made without departing from the inventive concept and accordingly the invention is to be limited only by the scope of the hereinafter following claims.

I claim:

1. A two-part device for hanging pictures or the like comprising, a bracket adapted for attachment to a wall or the like and provided with an upper edge the opposite ends of which are oppositely inclined, a member adapted for attachment to the back of a picture or the like, and said member being supported upon the upper edge of the bracket and being movable longitudinally thereof, for the purpose described.

2. A two-part device for hanging pictures or the like comprising, a bracket adapted for attachment to a wall or the like and provided with an upper edge the opposite ends of which are oppositely inclined, a member adapted for attachment to the back of a picture or the like, said member being provided with a groove adapted to telescopically receive and frictionally engage the upper end of the bracket, the bottom of said groove engaging the upper end of the bracket, and said member being movable longitudinally along the upper end of the bracket, for the purpose described.

3. A two-part device for hanging pictures or the like comprising, a bracket adapted for attachment to a wall or the like and provided with an upper edge the oppositie ends of which are oppositely inclined, a member adapted for attachenient to the back of a picture or the like, said member having a bottom shaped to engage throughout its length the upper edge of the bracket, and said member being movable longitudinally along the upper edge of the bracket, for the purpose described.

4. A two-part suspension device for pictures or the like comprising, a bracket adapted for attachment to a wall or the like and provided with an upper edge the opposite ends of which are oppositely upwardly and outwardly inclined, a member adapted for attachment to a picture or the like, and said member being supported upon the upper edge of the bracket and being movable longitudinally thereof, for the purpose described.

5. A two-part suspension device for pictures or the like comprising, a bracket adapted for attachment to a wall or the like and provided with an upper edge the opposite ends of which are oppositely upwardly and outwardly inclined, a mem ber adapted for attachment to a picture or the like, said member engaging the upper edge of the bracket at spaced points along the edge thereof so that the contact of said member is with oppositely inclined portions of the bracket edge, and said member being movable longitudinally of the edge of the bracket, for the purpose described.

6. A two-part suspension device for pictures or the like comprising, a bracket adapted for attachment to a Wall or the like and provided with an upper edge the opposite ends of which are oppositely upwardly and outwardly inclined, a member adapted for attachment to a picture or the like, said member being provided with a groove adapted to telescopically receive and frictionally engage the upper end of the bracket the bottom of the groove engaging the upper end of the bracket at spaced points along the edge thereof and with oppositely inclined portions thereof, and said member being movable longitudinally of the upper edge of the bracket, for the purpose described.

7. A two-part device for hanging pictures or the like comprising, a bracket having a concaved upper end, a straight edge member resting upon and engaging the upper end of the bracket at spaced points along the length thereof, said bracket being adapted for attachment to a Wall or the like, and the member being adapted for attachment to a picture or the like.

8. A two-part suspension device comprising, a bracket adapted for attachment to a wall or the like and provided with an upper concave end disposed in spaced relationship to the wall, a member adapted for attachment to a picture or the like and provided with a groove adapted to telescopically receive and frictionally engage the upper end of the bracket, and the bottom of said groove engaging the upper end of the bracket but only at spaced points along the end of the bracket.

9. A device for hanging pictures or the like comprising, a Wall bracket having an arcuate shaped upper end to give the bracket end a concave configuration, a member carried by the picture frame and resting upon the upper end of the bracket but having a two-point engagement only with the bracket with said points of engagement being in spaced relationship, and said member being movable along the upper end of the bracket to shift the points of its engagement therewith, for the purpose described.

10. A two-part suspension device for pictures or the like comprising, a bracket adapted for attachment to a wall or the like and provided witha convexed upper edge, a member adapted for attachment to the rear of a picture or the like and provided with a convexed bottom edge, the concave edge of the member adapted to rest upon the convex edge of the bracket, and the member being movable longitudinally along the upper edge of the bracket, for the purpose described.

ELTON W. MILLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS are of record in the 

